Milk Thistle and HCV

My doc adviced me to use that, he is a liver specialist. He said that based on his experience it does not harm and acctualy help to the liver, so he recommend to use that.

He said that befor we found out that I am stage 2-3 grade 2-3. Do you think he might change his mind now after bx diagnosed that I am with this stage ?

Does anyone have any advice / experience for Milk Thistle ?

[missy60051]

I do remember this being discussed in the past.  While on treatment, Milk Thisel
should not be taken.  It somehow interfers with tx.  False readings on labs?  I just know while on tx it is a no no.  If you're not on tx it's perfect for your liver issues.
Missy

[bobbyullc]

my dr said it was ok but i stopped to be sure.
2-3 is not all that bad. you should get even lower after tx as it is only swelling and the liver can heal itself.

[bobbyullc]

my dr said it was ok but i stopped to be sure.
2-3 is not all that bad. you should get even lower after tx as it is only swelling and the liver can heal itself.

[nygirl7]

Not to be taken DURING treatment.  Otherwise it's ok.

[illo]

My doc said to DEFINATELY take it.  He is from Yale U and on the New England Liver Board.  Does many trials.  He agrees with all the herbs and supps I'm taking.  

[Forseegood]

I've just read in studies that certain herbs clean certain liver pathway(s), forgot what this pathway is called....which is great if youre not treating, you want these pathway(s) clean, but if youre on certain types of meds, you want those meds to stay in your system (and liver) as long as possible...they say this of St. John's Wort and a few others...I'm not really sure, can't remember, exactly if this is the case with Milk thistle as well, but I'd look into it...I'm no expert but you wanted feedback...report back if you find some things out...

[gazebo1]

Clarification please....so taking milk thistle during TX is no harm, but " interfers with tx. False readings on labs" ??

My doc, also a researcher, had said to continue OK, but now wondering about "false labs"....

Any onther comments out there?

[missy60051]

I'm no doctor,but it sounds logical what Foresee had to say about it.  I think it's a very good question.  Personally I'm afraid to take any supplements anymore.
I'm saving those questions for my new Dr., until then I'm waiting.
My GI told me not to waste my money on any supplements as they become costly and are not FDA approved and a waste of time.  I believe there is good in vit/herbs, but I want to hear it from someone I trust and they know what they are talking about.

Missy

[Magnum]

I've been on it for three years on a daily basis. The doctor recommends that and Sam-E daily. I can't remember wether I stopped or not during four treatments. My last AST and ALT readings were 87 and 109. A far cry from the 300's before I started on Milk Thistle. Naturally, that's me. Not all will respond the same. Otherwise, it's up to you...

Good luck,

Magnum

[JackABCD]

Anyone know how much Milk Thistle should be take in a day ? I am not going to use any other herbs since my doc onle recommends Milk Thistle .

[Magnum]

I've been taking Rexall's Concentrated Milk Thistle at 1000mg. daily for years. It's a 90 soft gel bottle you can buy at Wal-Mart for under $6.

Magnum

[illo]

Correct, stay away from ST John's Wort.  Not great for the liver.  No sense in taking Reishi while on tx. Reishi boosts interferon.  Good after tx or before, esp non responders.
Licorice kills the virus, but watch it, it can deplete potassium and cause high
blood pressure.  Take a low dose potassium cap with it.  Monitor yourself.  70% of all drugs are made from herbs.  So they do work.  The pharmas have known this for years.  Milk Thistle rebuilds new liver tissue and dandelion purifies the blood and is a mild diuretic and can deplete postassium.  Dandelion leaves, on the other hand, restores the postassium that its roots deplete.  Those are the big 4 if one goes the natural route.  You can make tea infusions out of all the above.

The best thing to do if you are afraid is to find a great naturopath that can walk you thru it.

MD's don't know a whole lot about herbs, don't bother to look at the studies on them because the pharmas fund the MD colleges.  They speak of their dangers or of their failure to work, when in fact, prescribed medicine is the number 2 cause of
accidental death in the US.  

[illo]

From everything I've read, it won't hurt you.  Ask your doc about taking Phosphatydilcholene with it.  It enhances the Milk Thistle, and as I've mentioned before, it's a form of Lecithin, which is vitamin B.  B's are safe like C because they are water soluable and are eliminated from your body if they aren't needed.

Siliiphos it's called, or you can buy it cheaper separately:

http://www.maximummilkthistle.com/Studies.htm

Best of luck!

[Bobdwilliams]

Yesterday I found out that my YEAR long treatment with Peg didn’t stay at zero….That was once a week shot with the Rib pills. Now the Doc suggested I take the ‘daily’ shots. I think I want to try Milk Thisel for a bit. My count is at 80,000 now…I wonder if I should try the Thisel for a few weeks and see...How much should I take? Is anyone here going through the second round?

[lindavalu]

st Marys thistle,red clover, Gotu Kola,stinging nettle,chick weed,Brahmi, wheat grass great all thing green and bitter herbs help the liver.
I made Aloe vera (Barbadensus) juice for myself and managed to put off tx for a while longer.
It can be hard finding good quality herbs and naturapatic remedies. Do you have a good naturapath or know of one?
I made allot of my own a bit cheaper that way just prep time then waiting when makeing a tincture an infusion or a cup of herbal tea doesn't take long at all and gets quite addictive as your body builds a taste for what helps it.
Some herbs can't be taken while on treatment but your doctor should give you all that info when you start tx
Good luck (o:
Aroha Linda

[Lady Lauri]

Milk thistle taken MUST be at least 80% silymarin. Read your bottles before buying. I'd suggest it for anyone not in tx.

Google it and it is proven to help the liver 'process', detoxify, work more smoothly and a damaged liver can use the help. I felt the best I have felt in 2 years doing it! But had to stop 30 days before tx and during tx. Not 'proven' but my VL on it was low, stopping it 30 days, than was over 4 mil.
It's simply that you 'need' these 'poisons' in you and don't want to take the chance they could also be detoxified out. Similar for wheatgrass during chemo, tho some do say that's okay, some say NO (my sis).Bad thing is, while I grew it, juiced it for her her labs went up on chemo! Than they told her to stop tho, the processing out theory.

LL

[chevyelcam79]

I took milk thistle for many years (7) started right after I found out I had HCV.  
My hepatologist(John Hopkins University, Maryland) told me not to take during tx, so I did not.

I am UND after 6 months of tx!  After ending tx, I have not started the milk thistle again.

Just my two cents.

Shari

[Roxy101]

I have a friend she take Milk Thistle (her secrect admired friend gave her this medication) she look at a label and realize it maintain healthy liver, so she drink it and made her sleep very good !!! After almost finish the botle she go to many herbal store to buy it, but she could not buy any where, she old and did not speak english, she ask me and give me a bottle, this bottle is Rexall Brand, is this the same brand you said sale in  Wall Mart for $6.00.  Her bottle is 1000 mg with 90 softgels also.

My husband also had Hepetic C, so he can take this medication too, right?  Is this medication work if my husband still drink beer everyday???

Roxy101

[pilgrim1951]

I used Maiximun Milk Thistle for about eight months after diagnosis until starting tx.  My doctor at UPenn didn't say to stop, but I stopped all of my supplements due to bad nausea and lack of appetite.  I don't know if it helped or not, as my VL went from 600,000 to 1,000,000 during that time frame.  I have about a 3 month supply left and am planning to use it up after tx while my liver tries to heal itself, unless my study doc says not to.  

I do know that UPenn has been chosen to do a study on Milk Thistle for the FDA, but I don't know when that will be starting.

Pilgrim